In 1894, the French-style castle, now the ranch’s flagship, was built. It is surrounded by a 245-hectare park and forests designed by the landscaper Carlos Thays, the same one who designed emblematic parks in Buenos Aires, Bosques de Palermo, the Rosedal and many others.
From La Candelaria they are committed to history, sustainability, recycling and how to instill these customs in their guests. In addition to the joint work with the municipalities of Lobos and Roque Pérez, and with producers in the region, giving vital importance to agroecology.
Paloma Rocha, (lic. in Gastronomy) together with her cousin Lucrecia Grande (lic. in Hospitality) are currently in charge of the ranch. They are part of a family that, led by Jorge Aníbal Grande, Silvia Rocha and Ricardo Ayerza, has been managing La Candelaria for 25 years. Paloma, general manager of the ranch, spoke with Ámbito about what it was like to go through the pandemic, the current proposals and what is to come.
Journalist: What was it like going through the pandemic and how has the recovery process been?
Dove Rock: Like all SMEs, things went quite badly for us, we were closed for eight months, from March to November when the municipality allowed us to open. The ranch also required maintenance all the time, imagine that it has almost 300 hectares between park, forest and the historic center. Being so big and having so many places we have a lot of distributed staff taking care of everything and it was really hard to be able to maintain everything.
What was Previaje helped us a lot when it came to returning, and I think that after the hardest quarantine was left aside and that people were able to leave, they began to bet even more on this type of destination. Nearby destinations and destinations of connection with nature, which is what we have been doing for more than 30 years. Obviously, the pandemic harmed us like it did all of us, but it benefited us later by being close to the Federal Capital and the need for people to be able to connect with nature, being in the park sitting in the middle of the grass… That is something that we can offer them.
Also during this time, many more people met us than before, since there was an explosion after the quarantine and people were able to leave.
Q.: Did you feel that there was a consumer change after the quarantine?
PR: It changed a lot, I think they focused much more on this type of destination, mainly in the first post-quarantine season. People were afraid and took precautions, perhaps avoiding going to typical places for fear of crowds of people, they began to choose places like ours. The first season was historic in terms of attendance, then it started to normalize, also much more than other years, and now, as it is the low season, we are working very well. The events theme, which is something that we are fortunately strong in, is also coming back.
Q.: What does La Candelaria offer in the post-pandemic?
PR: We bet on adding more activities to those we already had traditionally. We added the part of well-being and sustainability and we are doing a lot of focus on that since we believe it is very important. We listen to clients a lot and we do everything that is within our reach, for example, they asked us for the farm and that is something that we are doing now, we are very focused on what the client asks for.
We have a very diversified public and, in turn, we have a place with such a breadth that it is capable of generating many proposals. The castle is perhaps to come as a couple, and it is great, it is very relaxed and has its own style. You can come to the colonial part with friends or family and it is another type of experience. They are two different things in the same place, the truth is that La Candelaria is a multiple destination with many proposals and promotions that is super wide.
Q.: Can you tell me a little more about those proposals and promotions?
PR: Every month we have some type of proposal with the wineries that we work on the farm, this month and thinking about Father’s Day, the proposal comes from the hand of the. terraces winery Those parents who come to spend the day or to stay will be given a bottle of wine as a gift.
Regarding promotions, we have a 25% discount on Sundays in the colonial rooms and in the castle. This includes day and night, plus all meals (empanadas reception, lunch, dinner, and breakfast) and activities: horseback riding, bicycles, swimming pool (seasonal), forest walks, tennis, soccer, volleyball, and game room.
In addition to a “4×2” promotion where four adults staying in the same room pay only for two. This promotion includes: meals (empanadas reception, lunch, dinner and breakfast) and activities: horseback riding, bicycles, swimming pool (in season), walks through the forest, tennis, soccer, volleyball and games room. In addition to a series of specific activities depending on the day, for example, meditation and nature, yoga, historical talks, tractor ride, composting and recycling workshop, among others.
Q.: How is the gastronomic offer that the estancia offers?
PR: In the past, the estancia did not have a restaurant, we had a rather traditional offer. When I started working on the estancia, my idea was to develop a restaurant that is also open to the local public. In the past, the estancia was only open for picnics and lodging, and in this format it was difficult for people from the area to come. . The idea was to attract the local public and it could be done through the restaurant.
Our suppliers are all from the region, therefore people who come from other places can eat local products, something that is more sustainable, richer and gives the proposal another value. We have a menu that changes according to the season of the year that is adapted to the products of each season, but always maintaining the essence that it is from the field and that it has to do with nature.
Q.: Thinking about winter vacations, do you already have some kind of proposal planned?
PR: Yes, for the winter holidays many families usually come, and surely we are going to repeat something we did last year and it turned out very well, which is a “kids club” where we do activities with the children. Every day is a different activity with physical education teachers, art workshops, recycling workshop, all outdoors and in contact with nature. We go on night walks in the woods and that is something that not only the little ones like very much, but also the family. All this adds to the already traditional activities of the week. Something that goes beyond the winter holidays, already thinking a little further, are picnics in the open air in front of the castle, we did it on Valentine’s Day and it turned out very nice, it is a possibility for later.
Source: Ambito
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